a convenient form for those to whom such knowledge is important. These questions comprise the Poor Laws for Ireland; the theory of population; the state of the agricultural labourers; the Factory Question; the Corn Laws, and the Currency.

We have heard the work attributed, we know not with what truth, to a noble Lord who has so continuously and nobly distinguished himself on the Factory Question.

Autobiography of Joseph Lister, of Bradford in Yorkshire, to which is added a Contemporary Account of the Defence of Bradford, and Capture of Leeds, by the Parliamentarians, in 1642. Edited by Thomas Wright, Esq. M.A., F.S.A., &c. 8vo. pp. 80. London: John Russell Smith.

This is a reprint of a very curious book, valuable as a piece of biography, minutely developing the life and sentiments of a sincere and energetic mind, and at the same time recalling the manners and events of one of the most interesting periods of any history. In addition to these great inducements to perusal, it is pleasant reading, as the unaffected narrative of any life, especially during such an eventful period, must be. The reader should be warned against expecting any elaborate or luminous history of the period, for there is no such stuff" in the book, and indeed it contains many things that the dignity of history would condemn as mean and trivial, but these are the very things that enable us to picture to ourselves the realities of the period.

Educational Works. Practical Introduction to the Study of the German Language, according to the Views of Dr. Becker, the Discoverer of the Natural System of Language, and Founder of an Improved Method of Instruction. By Heinrich Apel, late Assistant Master in King's College, London. 12mo. pp. 152. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

Whether Dr. Becker's claims, as set forth in the title page, are just, we cannot say, but at all events his system is reasonable, and one which has been latterly gaining ground in our own country. The slavish admi

ration of the languages of the Romans and Grecians, on the first revival of literature, led to a most unphilosophical mode of teaching the modern languages. A Procrustean machine in the form of a grammar was constructed, and the Teutonic tongues were racked into a form totally unsuited to them. The confusion created by this method, or rather want of method, has led to the entire dislocation of a true grammatical theory, and we have only had absurdity heaped upon absurdity.

It is stated in the preface, and the reform is fully developed in the construction of the grammar, that "in the grammars of the old school, the external forms and inflexions are the principal objects of consideration, occupying the attention of the learner chiefly with words, and in some instances even with mere syllables and letters, instead of the ideas which they are designed to express. In modern grammar, on the contrary, pursuing an entirely different principle, the origin and signification of these forms and inflexions, and the operations of the human mind which they are intended to define and express, are inquired into, and grammar thus has for its base a system, connected in all its parts, at once simple and natural, explaining the phenomena of language in a manner intelligible to all."

It is but justice to Mr. Apel to say, that his grammar and mode of instruction have stood the test of practice, and many years' active operation, at King's College School.

Ivo and Verena; or, The Snow Drop.

12mo. pp. 164. James Burns. This is a religious tale for young persons, and is written in a plain and fluent style, and is likely to touch the feelings of those to whom it is addressed. The scene is laid in the northern countries, at the period of their conversion to Christianity, and the general tenor of the work is to represent the good effect of religion in assuaging the evils of life, and regulating the passions.

The tenets it inculcates are those which animate the whole series of works, and represent the Roman

Catholic forms and precepts in the most agreeable light. Some persons may think the religion of too sentimental a class, but this is a mark of its emanating from those who address the understanding through the medium of the imagination.

Lessons on the Globes, on a Plan entirely new, in which they are taken together

in illustration of Terrestrial and Celestial Phenomena: with original familiar Explanations of the ever varying Circumstances of our Planet, and the Solar System generally, and extended Notices of several Departments of Natural Science, interspersed with numerous corroborative Quotations from the best popular Authors. Also an Appendix, containing Memoranda in Verse, Rhymes on the Constellations, &c. By T. H. Howe. 12mo. pp. 436. Cradock and Co.

This is a very full and a very clear work. The arrangement is founded on scientific principles, and is conseThe general dequently excellent. fect of works purporting to treat of the globes has been, that they teach the Copernican system from a Ptolemaic model; and do not give sufficient of the first geometrical principles to make their theory clear. The present work avoids this even, and gives just sufficient of the scientific data on which the theories are based to make them clear to the understanding.

The subjects are by no means extended beyond the legitimate reach of the treatise; but they are exceedingly numerous, and embrace a great fund of knowledge, that must be useful in any pursuit or profession. Some notice of their extent may be formed by enumerating a few of them. Besides the topics common to all such works, there are treatises on the Pendulum, the Tides, Dialling, Astrology, &c.

There are some doggrel verses appended, which are totally beneath the character of the work.

Essays, Treatises, &c. English Surnames. Essays on Family Nomenclature, Historical, Etymological, and Humorous; with Chapters on Rebuses and Canting Arms, The Roll of Battel Abbey, a List of Latinized Surnames, &c. By David

The plan pursued by the author has been to classify the names under the various subjects and circumstances from which they originated, and by this means it is astonishing how many he includes.

The Lawyer, his Character and Rule of Holy Life, after the Manner of George Herbert's Country Parson. By Edward O'Brien, Barrister at Law. Fcp. 8vo. pp. 284. London: Pickering. This is the posthumous work of an Irish barrister who died at the prema ture age of thirty-two, of a fever caught in consequence of his exertions on behalf of some religious and charitable societies established in Dublin. The friend who has superintended the publication of the book assures us that Mr. O'Brien was a remarkably conscientious man, and that the work is the result of his own sense and study of what were the duties and requisites of a lawyer. This it has every appearance of being, notwithstanding the adoption of Herbert's mode and manner gives it an artificial appearance.

There is, too, in all works of this class, an appearance of assumption, and an oracular and dogmatic tone that creates any thing but a feeling of respect. Mr. Taylor's "Statesman,' and a work called "The Bishop," have been written on the same plan, and have the same unpleasant, not to say offensive, style. The reader cannot avoid asking himself the question, whilst he is perusing these elaborate and formal canons, whether the author is in a position to be so dictatorial, and whether he is not assuming an office that requires some extraordinary warrant to command attention. The fact is, there is no proof

of experience in these kind of works, and much that is laid down is obvious and belongs to a wider morality than that inculcated. For instance, it is the duty of all men to advocate justice and refrain from falsehood, and it needs no very elaborate discussion to know if a Barrister, more than any other man, is to convey an untruth, and practise deception and chicanery. Such discussions, indeed, only tend to confound the barriers of right and wrong, and are not very likely to have any effect on the mind that delights in them.

In

Nor do we think such a work can be of any real utility. The practitioner at the bar is not likely to be so unsettled, either in his good or his bad principles, as to have them moved by arguments which, if he deems it necessary to ponder on the subject, must have occurred to himself. deed it seems much more probable that the young, strong in their confidence and fresh in their intellect, would amuse themselves by detecting the fallacies of the arguments or finding ingenious ones in opposition to them. The great fault of this kind of works is that the pragmatical tone resolves itself into an absurdity. For instance, why should the lawyer's humanity, or the lawyer's charity, differ from any other man's humanity or charity? Or why is the lawyer's Sunday to be carved out for him in a different manner to that of any other Christian gentleman?

In as far as it argues some points, such as the extent to which an advocate is to proceed for his client, it is useful enough, and the quotations from the great lawyers and writers of the 16th and 17th centuries are interesting.

ating 531 Figures. London: Whittaker and Co.

The knowledge of the microscope has opened a new animal world to us; and the present volume may be taken as an account of this new wonder. Mr. Pritchard is well known to the world both as a scientific and prac tical optician; and the popularity of his numerous books is asufficient guarantee for their excellence, as we are quite sure scientific works do not continue to have a large sale, if they do not satisfy those most capable of judging of them.

Mr. Pritchard has done much for the miscroscope, leading the student by his systematic arrangement and ingenious developement of its purposes, to a sound application of it.

It appears that the Germans excel us in works of this description, as they do in too many other productions, and that Dr. Ehrenberg has published a magnificent work in six hundred folio pages on the Infusoria, of which Mr. Pritchard has availed himself. Dr. Willshire, a celebrated botanist, has also assisted Mr. Pritchard, so that the utmost reliance may be placed on the descriptions.

The work is divided into two parts; the First Part containing a History and Account of Infusoria, which is exceedingly entertaining and curious even to the general reader, and to the scientific highly valuable. The Second Part contains the Descriptions of the various Species; and they seem to be written in a pointed and distinct style, and must be invaluable to those interested in their study.

The plates are chiefly from Ehrenberg, with additions from Unger and Bauer, and are very neatly engraved and carefully coloured.

The labour and time employed in condensing, reducing, and arranging, must have been immense; and the students of this branch of science, and all lovers of the microscope, are deeply indebted to Mr. Pritchard for the zeal and pains which he has bestowed on the subject.

Fine Arts.

The Hand Book of the Elements of Painting in Oil, with an Appendix;

containing Sir Joshua Reynolds's Observations and Instructions to Students. 32mo. pp. 54. London: Clarke and Co.

This is one of those books that are at all events harmless. They give the common mode of making a picture, as the cookery books do a pie. It is somewhat amusing to find them saying, "improve the middle tints, strengthen the shadows," &c., which may be all very well; but, in the mean time, the poor student would be glad to know how to do this, so as to produce the effects desired. They may contain some rules as to the mechanical department of painting, useful to those who have not an instructor to guide them, and the Rules from Sir Joshua are quite sufficient to set up any modern critic. The Introduction contains an assertion, that is not correct, stating that there is no book of the kind at a moderate price; now we ourselves have before us one of Pinnock's ninepenny Catechisms, that contains twice as much at a less price.

The Lady's Hand Book of Fancy Needle Work and Embroidery; containing plain and ample Directions whereby to become perfect Mistress of those delightful Arts. 32mo. pp. 54, London Clarke and Co.

We had to notice last month a little book on this subject, and which we fancy had been long in existence before the present work appeared. The present one is not so handy for the work-box, nor does it contain those pictorial illustrations which are better than, and frequently save, a page of description.

The Dulwich Gallery; its Pictures and their Painters. A Guide Book for Visitors. By Henry G. Clarke. Fcp. 8vo. pp. 32. London: Clarke and Co. This is a catalogue of the pictures, with a very few remarks introduced. Appended are alphabetical lists of the masters of the various schools, and an Index stating their births and deaths. This is by no means to be compared with the Guides to Westminster Abbey and Hampton Court, but then neither is it in point of price. And, perhaps, there is quite sufficient to guide the visitor.

The Naval Gallery of Greenwich Hospital; its Pictures and their Painters. A Guide Book to Visitors. By H.

G. Clarke. Fcp. 8vo. pp. 32. London: Clarke and Co.

This is a catalogue on the same principle as the preceding, but in addition there is an account also of the building. These books have the great recommendation of being small and cheap; sixpence each being probably the maximum amount the generality of visitors would like to pay.

The National Gallery; its Pictures and their Painters. A Guide Book of Visitors. By H. G. Clarke. Fcs. 8vo. pp. 110. London: Clarke and Co. This is a catalogue on the same principle as the foregoing; but the remarks on the pictures, principally quoted from Waagen, are more copious.

Novels, &c.

Forest Life. By the Author of "A New Home." 2 vols. fcp. 8vo. pp. 622. Longman and Co.

This is a very agreeable work, by a Mrs. Clavers; depicting the hardships, dangers, and fortunes of a family who go into what the Americans term "the Forest ;" and in the present instance it is indicative of a new settlement in Michigan.

It contains a mass of facts, evidently gathered by one who has participated in what is described, garnished with fiction to make it pleasant reading. The little volumes will interest those who either, from a love of inquiry into all modes of life, peruse such works, or those who have a more serious end to gain in examining into the nature of new settlements.

Poetry.

The Salamandrine; or Love and Immortality. By Charles Mackay. Post 8vo. pp. 144. London: How and Parsons.

This Poem is deserving of the appellation and there can be no doubt of Mr. Mackay being gifted with some portion of the "divine furor." The subject of the story is the love of a supernatural being for a mortal. Amethysta, a Salamandrine, is in